Staff Reports
Arizona Daily Wildcat
October 2, 1997

Reactor

Today

Unless you're one of the unlucky souls stuck in tonight's edition of the UDWPE, there's really not a damn thing to do tonight. Go see a cheap movie or patronize your favorite local bar. You know, not every night has to be filled with excitement. Just get your friends together and discuss really deep issues. Here's a topic: Is the decline of proper English grammar usage a sign of impending social doom or a symptom of an evolving culture? Discuss.

OK, we're lying. There is one, count it, one thing to do. Witness the birth of new improv comedy. The Charles Darwin Experience will do their crazy, kooky, comedy-kid thing (in association with Zeb and Earl's Bait Supply, Inc.) at 10 p.m. in our beloved Cellar. And it's even free, and much, much better than actually talking to others.

Friday, Oct. 3

For those of you looking for an alternative to "Family Matters" and "Meego" tonight, check out "The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade," presented by the Millennium Theatre. Be at the Historic YWCA at 738 N. 5th at 8 p.m. Friday (or Saturday) and be ready for them to get absurdist on your ass.

On a slightly more civilized note, Centennial Hall will turn into holy ground with the performance of "Litany" by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra. This program of sacred music starts at 8 p.m. and tickets will run you $21 to $33, but that's really a small price to pay for civilization, now isn't it?

Saturday, Oct. 4

Only the rampant consumer culture could create the wonder of the Tucson Jazz Society colliding with our local Volvo dealership. The 20th Birthday Celebration kicks off at noon at the corner of Broadway Boulevard and Park Avenue with music by the Pete Swan Trio (in the Muller Music building), Jeff Haskell (in the Volvo Showroom) and Ground Zero cover-darlings Crawdaddy-O (in an outdoor tent o' fun). There will be art exhibits in the participating businesses and, more importantly, a Jumping Castle!

Sunday, Oct. 5

If you haven't been to the Tucson Heritage Experience, get yer butt down there. THE Festival is in its second big year, offering more food than you will ever eat and cool stuff to watch.

The newest incarnation of Tucson Meet Yourself, THE Festival not only gets you out of your boring old room but teaches you a little about this wacky town we call home. This year's theme is "Connecting Cultures," and there will be tons of food, folk art, music, dancing, storytelling and workshops. Check out demonstration of Ice Carving, the suddenly-hip art of mehendi (Indian hand painting) or Arabic Calligraphy (all on Saturday only). Then get your toes tapping to the Japanese drums of Morgan Daiko (Saturday, 2:45 p.m.), the "old-style polka and waltzes" of the Happy Scandinavians (Friday, 8:45 p.m.) or the Scottish music of the Seven Pipers Society (Sunday, 7:30 p.m.).

The Tucson Heritage Experience begins on Friday, Oct. 3 from 6 to 11 p.m., continues on Saturday from noon to 11:00 p.m. and wraps up on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m. You'll need to trek all the way downtown (don't whine, it's not far) to El Presidio Park, 115 N. Church Ave. It's north of the Old Courthouse (the one with the pretty dome) between Alameda Street and Pennington Street. THE Festival is free, so you really have no excuse.